Geastrum quadrifidum
Geastrum quadrifidum is a cosmopolitan species of earthstar fungi. The small, tough, fruit bodies are grayish-brown balls that are initially enclosed by a skin. The outer tissue layer splits to form star-like rays and expose a circular spore case. The species was first described scientifically by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794.
About Geastrum quadrifidum in brief
Geastrum quadrifidum is a cosmopolitan species of earthstar fungi. The small, tough, fruit bodies are grayish-brown balls that are initially enclosed by a skin. The outer tissue layer splits to form star-like rays and expose a circular spore case. The spores are spherical, warty, and have a diameter of up to 6 μm. The species is easily confused with Geastrum fornicatum, a larger earthstar without a well-defined pore mouth. In Japan, G. quadrifIDum has occasionally been called “Geastrums minus” G. Cunn. The specific epithet quadr ifidum means “four-forks” or “four cut shell-puff” The species was first described scientifically by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794. It is a saprobe, feeding off decomposing organic matter present in the soil and litter of coniferous forests. It lies partly submerged or wholly submerged, encrusted with debris. The expanded fruit body is usually taller than it is wide, about 10–40mm high, with mycelial cup included about 15–55mm. The exoperidium is typically three to six, but usually four or four or five.
The internal spore-producing gleba is enclosed in the peridium, a protective structure of four layers: an inner endoperidium, and outer exoperium that may be further divided into an external, tough and fibrillose layer, and an internal fleshy layer. The immature, unopened fruit body lies roughly flattened or irregular in shape, with an irregular, partially submerged, partly submerged, entirely submerged, completely submerged in debris. It can reach dimensions up to 2–3 cm wide and up to about 3 cm tall. It has an even peristome that is fibrilose. It is one of a number of earthstars whose rays arch downward as they mature, lifting the spore sac upward, high enough to catch air currents that disseminate the spores into new habitats. In taxonomical terminology, this usage is an auctorum non—a misapplication or misinterpretation of the species name. It was previously described as Lycoperdon coronatum by Jacob Christian Schaeffer and Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, then afterward as Geaster coronatus by Joseph Schröter.
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This page is based on the article Geastrum quadrifidum published in Wikipedia (as of Oct. 29, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
